Why Aren't My Chickens Laying? Here Are Your Answers!

[commosmart1]

I have several hens and they have plenty of different sized nest boxes to accomadate them but they will not lay in the box but rather on a wooden pallet... Any ideas on that? Also do hens tend to lay in the yard rather than the coop? I let them out in the daytime is it possible that they are laying during the day in the yard somewhere and not when I put them up at night?

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Did you check your feed containers? That is where I find chicken eggs when I don't forget to close the feed stall.

 

[Beekissed]

Quote:
You can add me to the mystified multitude. I've never had a slow down of this length or magnitude in any flock I've ever had.

I have older birds who have been consistent layers for the past few years and a younger flock that is almost 8 mo. old~breeds that should have sexually matured by now~and show all the signs of this maturity. I have been getting 3 eggs per day from a flock of 28 layers of mixed breeds....White Rock, Black Aussies, New Hamps, RIR, Barred Rock, Part. Rock, Speckled Sussex. I have been getting these same level of production since around the end of August~yes, molting and winter light aside, this is very abnormal for any flock that I raise.

I have been doing things the same for many years with the same good results, the flock appears very healthy and bright, no active molting in progress, no added stressors, same living conditions, same feed mix, same water, same husbandry methods as in the past. In the past I have had very good winter production~no added lighting~ and that production would even now be on the upswing. But it isn't.

I'm wondering if the spread of the use of GMO grains into the smaller farm communities has resulted in a difference in the feeds I buy. I have no other explanation for my flock's slow down of production. It does seem to be rather wide spread and abnormal in nature.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Ditto. I agree with you. Same here.

 

[feathersnuggles]

IDK if it's a GMO issue, though. We feed a strictly organic whole grain layer, with no corn or soy. It's 17% protein with fishmeal. Plus we've been feeding them all the usual supplements (treats). But egg laying is really down here, too. The hens are healthy. I even had one who resumed laying mid-December after about 3 months of molting. But she stopped after 2-1/2 weeks, and hasn't laid an egg since then.

Last year was NOT like this. Weather, maybe?

 

[Beekissed]

My weather was only slightly less bad last year as this one. I don't think weather had much to do with it.

 

[M To The Maxx]

Quote:

 

[Claudias Coop]

I am still very new at this & I am starting slow.
I have a small backyard Coop with a large backyard.
for Egg laying only.
It is a New Coop that I clean daily, clean food & water daily.
I have 1 Leghorn that lays almost daily.
But I don't believe my 1 yr. old Amerucana has laid since
I got her over a month ago.
Is it possible she will not lay at all? How long should I wait?
I live in California & we are having beautiful 70+ weather.

 

[MareeZoCool]

It's cold, and the days have been shorter. My hens started laying after just 2 days of free- ranging and temps in the upper 40's.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Claudia, since your chicken stopped laying all together, she may not start again until the days are longer. The weather may be great there (And I really envy you!) but the day length is still shorter.